Electrical resistance unit.



E. J. OVINGTON. ELEOTRIGAL RESISTANCE UNIT. 7 APPLICATION FILED HAB.3, 1911. BEKEWBD MAY 20, 1913- 1,077, 35, Patented Nov. 4, 1913 3 SHBBTS-SHEET 2.

-B. J. OVINGTON. ELECTRICAL RESISTANCE UNIT. APPLICATION FILED MAR.3, 1911" RENEWED MAY 20, 1913.

1,077,635. I Patented N0v.4,19l3

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I v 5 b a" A f A w g A A %5 WWW, 4% yflM" turally adapted.

EDWARD J. OVINGTQN, 0] LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

ELECTRICAL nnsrs'rancn UNIT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 4, 1913.

Application flledlarch 3, 1911,.Seria1 No. 612,050. Renewed May 20, 1b '3. Serial N 0. 768,854.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD J. OVINGTON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Electrical Resistance Units, of which the following is a specification. I

This invention relates to improvements in the construction and process of making electrical resistance units, as for the production of light and heat; and the invention has for its object the institution of improvements of the general nature stated, from the utilization and employment of which flow a large number of important advantages relating to facility, convenience, speed and accuracy of operation-and a wide range of superior qualities of the resultant product or products.

According to present practice, the productionand assembling of units of the general character stated has been accomplished in accordance with a variety of methods related to the nature and character of the media and parts to be dealt with, and there has apparently been no attempt to reduce such acts of production and assemblage to simply and highly effective procedure the operative results of which should constitute a fully qualified and roperly organized product adapted to a wi e range of uses and applications. According to the present invention, the relatively simple steps employed are each directly related to the accomplishment of definite ends and results which have to do with the highly efiicient character and organization of the product or resultant unit. The insulating supporting and sustaining element or elements, and the resistance element or elements, are initially formed with reference to their facile assemblage in accordance with simple oporation; and the resultant unit may then be modified in conformation, as desired, to adapt it to any specific character of service, or may be installed, in the organization resultant upon performance of the assembling operation, in any operative position or operative association for which it is struc- Before treating specifically of the method of procedure utilized in carrying the invention into effect, it is believed proper and beneficial to enter into a brief discussion, of

the relation of the improved constituting the-product of the invention, with respect to units now in general use for the purposes of converting and dissipating electrical energy, as to the relative merits, or contrasted merits and demerits of the former and the latter.

It has always been the practice, in the I utilization of units for converting and dissipating electrical energy, to employ to that end a metallic agency in the form of a ribbon, wire, filament, or other attenuated body. In order to secure a very close energy-couple between the metallic resistance element and the part or body to be heated or lighted, it has been found necessary, in past practice, to hold the resistance element, preferably under pressure, in contact with t e body or object to receive the en ergy. For the purposes of electrical insulation, a non-conducting sheet of varying thickness has ordinarily been interposed between the resistance material and the body to be heated. Asbestos has been determined to be inferior, to that end, to mica, in that mica would more easily transmit the energy; and therefore mica has more recently been used to the practical exclusion of every other insulating material.

In practice and experimentation, I have found that the heating of the resistance medium often becomes so great as to cause anhydration of the mica ;in other words, to partially or entirely expel the water of crystallization. The mica was thus left in a pearl translucent or opaque-condition, and

after ed' increased resistance to transmission of light waves and heat Waves. The result was a lessening of the utilizable radiation of energy from the resistance material, causing in turnan increased temperature of the latter which caused the mica to become still more nearly opaque and still less effective in energy transmission. The final result of such alteration of the mica would consist in the prevention of such an amount of dissipation of the heat-units generated by the resistance element, that the latter would be destroyed.

Another objection which I have discovered to the standard theories of past practice as to construction of resistance units, has been as to the high cost of the same. If

the resistance element the form of a wire, as it most frequently is, the wire has been vusually wound or coiled 011 a metal core-usually of brass "or eopper, which are bon had to be cut so that the electrical energy would traverse an irregular. or zigzag path; and the cuttingof such ribbons, as. by means of dies, is complicated and expensive in performance. These items of expense, entering into the production of units for the conversion and dissipation of electrical energy, have been so great that the principle involved has not been applied to practical purposes as much as ,the merits of: the same, involving convenience and efli-j ciency, should warrant. In practice as-well as theory, electrical heating appliances are of approximately 100% efliciency, excepting under circumstances in which a strong magnetic field is maintained,and this is very seldom the case.

Leading up to the present invention, I have endeavored to eliminate all these faults and objections, as above enumerated, and the many attendant defects and objections present and to be met within theart in accordance with standard practice; and my invention provides a simple and effective method of producing and assembling electrical energy converting and dissipating units, which units in themselves are devoidof the objections urged above. I do not necessarily employ mica or any other insulating material as insulation between the heat producing element and the heated part or element. On the contrary, I use primarily space" insulation. It is true that the heat- I producing or resistance material is maintained at a relatively high temperature in service; but resistance materials are now to be had commercially that will withstand such temperatures without. deterioration, and which are of relatively low cost.

As heretofore stated, the resistance material, in standard practice, has been held very close to the part or object to be heated, and if the latter were of low heat conductivity, the construction was faulty because of the relatively small area of the heated part in thermal contact with the heating element. In accordance with the results obtained in utilizing my invention, and the products thereof, the relation of the surface of the heated part exposed to the light or'heat waves from the heat-producing part is greatly increased; and consequently the wattage per square inch is relatively low, and ap'roper dispersion of heat units over the entire heated part, or the surface thereof, is caused. In accordance with the invention, I coil the resistance material, in attenuated form, through'a relatively thin insulating medium, such asmica'sheet; and the turns or loops of the.coil areheld in spaced relation by said sheet. As the wire enters the sheet, or openings or notches therein, substantially at right angles to the plane thereof, the length of the resistance medium that is covered by the mica, at any one point, is relatively slight. In practice,

about 99% of-the resistance medium is free to radiate its energy through the ether of space to surrounding objects or parts to be heated, with nothing intervening except space and such atmosphere as may be contained therein. .The energy is therefore not dependent upon the insulating sheet or medium for transmission to the part or object to be resultantly heated, and the mica therefore does n'otoppose any interference to. dispersion of the energy, as it does, when it has a transmitting function because of the deterioration which always occurs. And, of course, the generated heat is not retarded by the mica in such manner as to lead to the destruction of the resistance medium in' the manner above pointed out when treating of past practice. Nor do I necessarily employ any metallic core, about which to wind or otherwise dispose the resistance element, and thus obviate the expense involved in the ro-' vision of such core. The entirevolume of eat or light thrown off by the resistance medium is transmitted through space directly to the body or object which is to be resultantly heated, over which latter the energy is properly distributed so as to obtain a highly efficient thermal result, without any thermal contact of the heated part and the heating part.

I am aware that there have been issued Letters Patent, No. 853,892, that disclose a resistance wire sustained somewhat in'the manner that I support the same in carrying my inventioninto effect. From the specification of said patent however, it is very plainly evidentthat all of the resistance wire, down to the last end of the same, must be passed through one opening or perforation in the insulating sheet, before the passage of the same through successive openings in the sheet. In other words, the resistance wire is sewed through the sheet. This is a very extensive and costly operation, and so much so that it has proved to be impracticable and has not been commercially adopted to any extent during the four years which 'have elapsed since the issuance of said Letters Patent.

In carrying out the present invention, I first provide a suitably formed insulating body or bodies, relatively thin or consisting of a sheet or sheets, as of mica; and also one or more properly coiled resistance clements, as of wire; and then by suitably holding the same and bringing the same together, and imparting the proper-relative movement to thesame, Icause the assemblage of. the entire electrical energy converting and dissipating unit which is the product of the performance stated.- Thev product may be then given such ultimate conformation; as

is desired or necessary or expedient to adapt it to any predetermined condition of service or operative association, and the entirety is inexpensive, economical and speedy i'm-' provements in the art of producing and assembling electrical energy converting and dissipating units, all as hereinafter described, shown and indicated in the drawings, and finally set forth inthe claims.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a side view of an insulating element formed for association with a resistance element having the form shown in side elevation in Fig. 2; Figs.

3 and 4 are similar views of similar elements formed for the production of a slightly different resultant product; Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the elements shown in Figs. 1 and 2, just after the commencement of the operation of assembling the same; Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the elements'shown in Fig. 5 after completion of the assemblage; Fig. 7 is a similar view of the elements shown in Figs. 5 and 6, during the operation of assembling the same; Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 6 showing the elements in Figs. 3 and 4 in finally assembled association; Fig. 9 is an end view of the assemblage shown in Fig. 6;

Fig. 10 is aside elevation similar to that of Fig. 6, showing another form of insulating element; Fig. llis an end elevation of the same; Fig. 12 is aside elevation of the prod not shown in Fig. 8, the same being altered by longitudinal severance of the insulating element, to produce a transversely flattened formation of the entirety, as shown in end elevation in Fig. 13; Fig. 14 is a side elevation of an assen'iolage similar to that shown in Fig. 6, a plurality of resistance elements being shown in association with a single insulating element; Fig. 15 is an end elevation of the assemblage shown in Fig. 14.; Fig. 16 is a view similar to Fig. 9 showing the resistance element in condition subsequent to distortion from perfect helical form; Figs. 17 18, 19, 20 and 21 are views similar to Fig. 9, showing a single resistance element in assemblage with a plurality of insulating elements, the resistance element being developed or distorted into various final operative forms or conformations, with the exception of Fig. 17 in which the normal helical form is retained; Fig. 22 is a view similar to Fig. 9 showing a true spiral resistance elementenssembled with a plurality of insulating-elements in rectangular relation; Fig. 23 is a view similar to Fig. 8, the insulating element being split longitudinally, and the resistance element being associated therewith in a form at variance with a true helix; Fig. 24 is an end elevation of the showing in Fig. 23; Fig. 25 is a view similar to Fig. 23, the insulating element being at var .nce with a true helix, according to an arbitrary conformation essentially the re verse in nature of that of the showing in Fig. 23; Fig. 26 is an end elevation of the SllOW- ing in Fig. 25; Figs. 27, 28, 29, 30, 31 and 32 are respectively end views or elevations of varied products resultant upon practice of the present invention, and showing the re sistance element distorted or contorted, or peculiarly disposed as to the turns, or bends, or portions thereof, in connection with and wit-h relation to the insulating element; Fig.

33 is an edge view or side elevation of the product shown in Fig. 32; and, Fig. 34 is an edge view of a further varied product.

Corresponding parts in all the figures are denoted by the same reference characters.

Referring with particularity to the drawings, in each figure of the same the insulating element or element-part isdesignated by the general reference character A, and the resistance element or element-part is designated by the general reference character B. In producing each and all of the resultant forms of unitsdisclosed in the several figures, the insulating element or element-part is suitably formed by notching, recessing or perforating, to receive the several turns or oops or coil-parts of the resistance element or element-part, which latter is or are "suitably formed or shaped or contorted or twisted to permit of assemblage or final association of the resistance element or elementpart with the insulating element orelementpart resultant upon bringing said elements or element-parts together and causing relative movement of the same upon a common axis; whereupon the resistance element or element-parts enter the openings or perforations or recesses or notches in the insulating element or element-part, with the final result that the turns or loops or coil-portions 0f the resistance element or resistance element-parts are held in spaced relation in connection with the insulating element or element-part.

Referring specifically to Figs. 1, 2, 5, 7, 6 and 9 will serve to make clear the sequence of operations above specified, and the nature of the same and of the product resulting from the performance thereof. The showing in each and all of the other figures departs from the showing in the figures last referred to only as relates to specific modification as to step-performance and resultant product,

together with the addition of merely inci-' dental and secondary operations upon which the ultimate variations of product-conformation and organization are dependent.

sheet a, longitudinally of the same. The resistance element. B consists of a single length of suitable resistance wlre, or equivalent attenuated material b, which is suitably formed into a helix, the diameter of the cylindrical formation of which is equivalent to the distance between the spaced rows of perforations 0 in the insulating sheet a; and the perforations 0 are arranged in staggered relation, as between the two rows of the same, in conformity with the relative spacing of the turns or loops ofthe helical coil into which the resistance wire I) is formed. The coil of resistance element 5 is then brought into end-to-end relation with the insulating sheet a, as shown in Fig.

'5, so that the longitudinal central axis of the coil 1) is in alinement with-a longitudinal axis of the sheet a lying between and I equi-distant from the rows of perforations a.

The-coil and the sheet are then relatively rotated, upon such common axis, as by holding the sheet and rotating the coil, and the turns of the coil take into or successively enter and traverse the opening 0 of both rows of the same, in a continuous progresslon as indicated in Fig. 7, until all of the perforations c are occupied by mlnut'e portions of the turns of the coil 7), as shown in Figs. 6 and 9. Each complete turn of the coil is'now sustained or supported by the insulating; sheet at two diametrically opposed points or portions of the same, and the intermediate portions of the turns of the coil passing through the sheet at substantially right angles to the plane of the sheet, only very small portions of the coil and the turns thereof are covered by the insulating material.

In practice, as above stated, nearly 99% of the resistance material is freely suspended, so that it may radiate its energy through surrounding space tosurrounding objects, through the ether of space, and not necessarily through the insulating sheet. The complete dispersion of the heat-energy produced upon electrically energizing the resistance element, prevents the overheating of the resistance element to an extent which would cause its disintegration or combustion were the dispersion of such heat units dependent upon transmission through the insulating sheet. The resultant product, shown in Figs. 6 and 9, may

now be installed in working position in connection. with any object or part to be heated; and the'surface portions of such heated part or parts may bepredeterminedwith relation to the heat-units dissipated by the resistance material, so that the proper effective absor tion of heat units may occur, and highly e cient heating occurs with a very low wattage per square inch of heated surface. Manifestly, I do not depend upon sustaining the resistance element directly in. contact with or very close to the object or part to be heated; but by employing space insulation I am enabled to predetermine the heat-unit-supply per surface-unit of the objeetv or part to be heated and to do away with the interposition of any insulating me dium such as mica, between the resistance element and the objector part to be heated.

It will be noted that I do not depend upon any such elaborate performance as sewing the resistance element through the insulating element, to produce the resultant unit which I conveniently and perfectly obtain in accordance with the simple and expeditious and accurate performance or sequence of operations above set forth. Any suitable means may be employed for hold- .ing the resistance element and the insulating element during the relative movement whereby I bring the same into assembled relation. Preferably when openings through the insulating element are em ployed, as in a majority of the fi res, the

insulating element is suitably .he d at the margins of the latter element, where such holding does not interfere with the assembling operation. -And when such elements are thus assembled the unit product is completed, unless it be desired to contort or bend or alter the same structurally, into any of the forms suggestively shown in Figs. 16, 18, 19, 20, 22, 30,- and 21, or any other forms, whereby the dispersion of the energy of the heat-units may be adapted to specific working conditions to be met with. In Figs. 16 and 21 I have shown at 1t and '21 respectively, bends or distortions in the resistance element B which -serve to confine the turns-of the resistance coil to exact, and fixed positions, as against relative movement of the same and the insulating element or element parts A.

In Figs. 17, 1s, 19, 20, 21, 23, 27 and 24. I have shown the resistance element B is assembled with a 'plurality of insulating elements or element-parts A, enabling the dis tortion or bending of the turns of the coilin each instance by relatively moving or separating the insulating element-parts after assembling 'the same with the resistance element. v In Figs. 10 and 11 I have shown .the insulating element as provided with spaced rows of marginal notches d, .in substitution .for the spaced rows ofnperforations c.

In FigsB and 8 I have-shown a converg-.

mamas ent relation as between rows of erforations 0 corresponding to the per orations 0, whereby the resultant assemblage of the helical resistance coil B and theinsulating element A IS=-1Zl1lt of a modified spiral for mation of the resistance element in the completed product.

In Figs. 12 and 13 I'have shown the prodnot illustrated in Fig. 8 in the form assumed after longitudinally splitting the insulating sheet A and then flattening the resistance coil B. I

In Figs. let and 15 .I have shown the insulat-ing element as provided with two pairs of spaced rows of perforations 0, in parallel relation, whereby two concentrically disposed resistance element coils B oppositely turned, may be accommodatedthereby.

In Figs. 23 and 25, the modified spiral formation of the resistance element coil B is shown as still further modified, the showing in each of Figs. 24 and 26 being respectively related thereto. The rows of perforations c are relatively extended properly to produce the results shown in said figures.

In Fig. 22 I have shown the resistance element coil B as spirally disposed in connection with two rectangularly connected insulating elements A.

' In Figs. 27 to 34 inclusive I have shown.

products organized in practising the invention in which more radical distortions or contortions or arbitrary dispositions of the bends or portions of the coils of resistance elements are shown, such results being obtained after the assemblage of the insulating element or element-parts and the resistance element, in each case. In all of said figures but Figs. 32- and 33, the resistance element is shown as disposed in particular and peculiar arrangement so that all the free projection of the portions of the coils thereof is at one side of the insulating sheet, whereby the major portion of heat-energy radiations occurs at that side of the sheet; and the peculiar conformation or disposition given the parts of the coil in each instance determines the projection of the heat units, all as may be predetermined with respect to the nature of service concerned. In Fig. 27 a plurality of insulating sheets are shown divergently projecting from the main or supporting sheet. The supplemental sheets act as spacing insulators'cr carriers for the turns of the coil of the resistance. element, which latter is assembled in connection with the same in the same manner as with the main insulating body or carrier.

In Figs. 32 and 33 is illustrated the radical alterations whi h may be made as to disposition and arrangement of the portionsof the turns of the coil initially astening the turns and advancing the resistin the insulating sheet and distorting the turns of the coil laterally in apredetermined manner all as may best serve the purposes of the articular utilization of heat unit's involvedi may be employed in carrying the invention into effect; and the invention is not dependent upon the employment of any certain means to that end; and 0 reserve the right to a wide range of procedure without departing from the s irit of the invention and the terms of the fo lowing claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. An electrical resistance unit including. a flat insulatin sheet having rows of perforations thereln, the said perforations of the rows having a staggered relation to each other and being spaced from the edges of the insulating sheet to provide marginal portions of the sheet adapted to be grasped for supporting thesame, and a coiled resistance element associated with the perforated insulating sheet and supported thereby, the convolut-ions of the resistance element passing through the perforations of the two rows and the coiled resistance element being applied tov the insulating sheet by screwing the same into the perforations. I

2. An electrical resistance 'unit including relatively movable insulating members having corresponding rows of perforations therein, and a coiled resistance element associated with the insulating members, the convolutions of the resistance element being applied to the insulating members by screwing the same into the perforations thereof, the relative movement of the insulating members serving to bend the convolutions of the resistance element so as to prevent axial rotation thereof- 3. An electrical resistance unit including a fiat insulating sheet having a plurality of pairs of rows of perforations therein, the distance between the rows of perforations of the various pairs being difl'erent, and acoiled resistance element for each pair of rows of perforations, the diameter of each resistance, element corresponding to the distance between the rows ofperforations of the corresponding pair and the said resistance elements being associated with the insulating sheet and supported thereby with the convolutions of the resistance elements passing through the perforations of the corresponding rows, the sald reslstance elements being applied to the insulating sheet sembled with the insula ingelem nt, y fihtm ance element farther through the openings I It is manifest that a. wide variety of means.

by screwing the same the perforations Land t e rows of perf rations elng so ar ranged thatthe smaller coiled resistance elementis located Within the larger coiled resistance element.

4. The process of producing electrical re- 5 SIlSt3I1C8' I1I1ll3S"WhiCh consists in screwing a coiled resistance member through rows of openings formed in an insulating element, severin the insulating element between the rows 0 perforations, and then producing 10 reletivemovement of the severed portions of v theinsulating member to bend the convolu- EDWARD J. OVINGTON".

Witnesses:

C. P. WARDEN, RAYMOND I. BLAKESLEE.

Copies at this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. G. I 

